Arizona Diamondbacks beat Colorado Rockies to open last 2010 homestand

Playing the spoiler role means a team's hopes for the season have evaporated. At least there's the satisfaction of making the opponents feel miserable.

That's exactly what the Diamondbacks did to the Rockies on Tuesday night.

Spearheaded by a superb pitching effort from Joe Saunders and a two-run home run by Kelly Johnson, the Diamondbacks scored a 3-1 win in front of 37,460 at Chase Field. Colorado fell 2 1/2 games behind San Francisco in the National League West.

Following two consecutive losses, in which he allowed 14 hits and 14 runs (eight earned) in 9 2/3 innings, Saunders (9-16) pitched eight strong innings, allowing a run and six hits. He struck out seven and did not allow a walk.

"It was nice to get out there and show people what I'm capable of, Number 1," Saunders said. "The last three (including a no-decision) have been tough; my last one I thought I pitched pretty good, just didn't get many breaks."

Saunders' ability to throw first-pitch strikes against the aggressive Rockies was key.

"I told myself, 'Hey, get ahead of these guys,' . . . so that's what I tried to do," he said.

Juan Gutierrez pitched the ninth inning, striking out two and recording his 11th save.

On a negative note, the Diamondbacks set the major-league single-season record for strikeouts with 1,403, eclipsing the previous mark of 1,399 by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2001.

The Diamondbacks scored three times in the third inning with two out.

Stephen Drew singled and stole second, scoring on a Ryan Roberts' double prior to Johnson's 23rd home run of the season.

Pinch-hitter Ryan Spilborghs drove in the Rockies' run in the eighth, but Saunders then shut the door.

View from the press box

The subplot during the Diamondbacks-Rockies series revolves around Stephen Drew and Troy Tulowitzki, the leading contenders for the Gold Glove award at shortstop. Tulowitzki made a superb play in the first inning, and Drew had a couple of his own in the third. Both have committed only nine errors this season. Tulowitzki has the name recognition, and unfortunately for Drew, that probably is enough to put him over the top.
- Jim Gintonio